Brian A. Watkins, Austin US

Brian A. Watkins, Austin, TX US

Patent application number

Description

Published

20090124335

METHOD, APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR CONDUCTING A GAME HAVING A CONCURRENT BONUS INDICATOR - A game, preferably a video-based reel-type game, is provided having a persistent bonus mode. Methods, gaming machines, and program products are provided in various embodiments. One preferred game includes displaying gaming graphics in a first region of a graphic display device. In response to entering a player-chosen participation mode, such as, for example, “max lines” betting, the game displays a potential bonus award level, which can be maintained in response to certain gaming events such that it applies to the next game play cycle. In response to a game event having a bonus-award type, the game awards an amount based on the potential bonus award level. In response to a game event having a bonus-adjust type, the game randomly selects a new potential bonus award level from among a set of potential levels. Various adjustments to the bonus level may also be made in response to player bet-level changes.

05-14-2009

20090124338

METHOD, APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR CONDUCTING A GAME USING BOTH UNISYMBOL AND MULTISYMBOL REEL EFFECTS - A novel game is provided that transforms at least a part of the graphic symbol matrix shown on a video-based reel-type gaming machine to change the game operation from multi-symbol reels to single-symbol reels. Methods, apparatus and program products for implementing the game are provided. A preferred game operates in a first display matrix state displaying a symbol matrix. The symbol matrix provides a game play result by displaying two or more reel representations that combine to form the symbol matrix. In response a trigger event in game play, the game switches to a second display matrix state where it is modified to show single-symbol reel representations with separating elements between at least one pair of adjacent symbols of a respective reel representation. Multiple sets of data structures are provided for operation in each display state.

05-14-2009

20090124371

METHOD, APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR CONDUCTING A VARIABLE PRIZE PROGRESSION GAME FOR ONE OR MORE PLAYERS - A game is provided including a prize progression graphic display at one or more gaming machines, each gaming machine being associated with a different player. The prize progression graphic includes a number of prize progressions with each respective prize progression including a respective prize and a respective set of progression segments. In one version, free spins are provided that produce, from the various players, a progress varying value or progression activation modifier. In another version, one of the prize progressions is shown in an active state. A number of selectable objects at each respective one of the one or more gaming machines, although other preferred forms of the game provides free spins rather than selectable objects. Each selectable object conceals a respective prize progression affecting element. Each respective prize progression affecting element comprises either a progress varying value or a progression activation modifier that modifies or changes the active state.

05-14-2009

20110105214

ELECTRONIC SWEEPSTAKES SYSTEM PROVIDING MULTIPLE GAME PRESENTATIONS FOR REVEALING RESULTS FROM A SINGLE SWEEPSTAKES GAME - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed wherein a reveal request is initiated through a result reveal station by a person (user) who has previously made some purchase or donation and has been assigned one or more sweepstakes entries in an assignment order from a set of available sweepstakes entries for a sweepstakes game. This reveal request represents a request to reveal one or more of the results associated with the corresponding sweepstakes entries that have been assigned to the user. The reveal station employs a game presentation including various graphics and audio effects to show sweepstakes results in an entertaining fashion. In response to the reveal request, or perhaps even prior to the reveal request, one or more sweepstakes entries are selected to be revealed for the reveal request. The sweepstakes entries are selected in an order different from the order in which the sweepstakes entries were assigned to the user. The selection of entries is based on a set of game characteristics associated with the game presentation provided at the reveal station through which the reveal request is initiated.

05-05-2011

20120122543

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR A PLAYER-SELECTABLE HIGH-DENOMINATION BONUS GAME - A primary game may display multiple bonus game selection symbols on a reel. The bonus game selection symbols allow the player to choose a bonus game. The bonus game simulates a play in an actual wagering game with a wager that would normally be higher than the wager in the primary game.

05-17-2012

20120122545

WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, GAMING NETWORK, AND METHODS INCLUDING A DYNAMIC WHEEL - A wagering game, gaming machine, gaming network, and associated methods are disclosed including a dynamic wheel wherein a wheel game includes re-programming the wheel display and associated awards during successive plays. The dynamic wheel may be displayed in a wheel display area of a flat panel display device. The wheel display area along with other display areas may be defined by a bezel positioned over the display surface of the flat panel display device.

05-17-2012

20120122550

WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A SIMULTANEOUS SECONDARY GAME - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a gaming machine provides both a base game and a side game which may be played and wagered upon concurrently or according to some play sequence. The base game may be one type of game displayed on a portion of a primary display of the gaming machine and the side game may be a different type of game displayed on a remaining portion of the primary display.

05-17-2012

20120295688

WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH NUDGING RE-SPINNING STACKED WILDS - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with one or more stacked wild symbols which when appearing, trigger one or more re-spins wherein stacked wild symbols are locked in place for at least one re-spin. Awards are paid following each game outcome. In the event that a portion of a stacked wild symbol is displayed as part of a game outcome, the associated reel may nudge upward or downward to shift the entire stacked wild symbol into view, awards are then paid on the winning outcomes, and one or more re-spins may ensue with any displayed stacked wild symbols being locked for at least one subsequent re-spin.

11-22-2012

20120295689

WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A MATCHING SYMBOLS BONUS TRIGGER - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with a first set of reels operable to randomly determine a primary game outcome and a pair of reels positioned about the first set of reels and operable to randomly determine an indicia pair outcome, the indicia pair outcome operable to modify the primary game outcome. In the event that the indicia pair outcome includes a matching pair of designated indicia, then a bonus (or feature) game may be triggered wherein the matching pair are locked in place while one or more free spins of the first set of reels occurs, and, awards are provided for each winning outcome.

11-22-2012

20130045791

GAMING SYSTEM, METHOD, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT PROVIDING INDETERMINATE GAME PLAY - A method for providing indeterminate play at a gaming machine may include setting a meter value for an indeterminate mode in response to some trigger condition. Once the meter is set for plays in the indeterminate play mode, an indeterminate play input may be received through the player input system of the gaming machine to initiate a respective play in the indeterminate play mode. The meter value may be incremented in response to a first type outcome for the respective play in the indeterminate play mode, decremented in response to a second type outcome for the play, and left unchanged in response to a third-type outcome for the play. These steps of receiving an outcome for a play in the indeterminate play mode and either incrementing, decrementing, or leaving the meter value unchanged may be repeated for each respective play in the indeterminate play mode until the meter value reaches a predetermined end value at which point the indeterminate play mode ends.

02-21-2013

20130045792

SLOT MACHINE GAME WITH SELECTION BONUS GAME HAVING MODIFIER SYMBOLS - A slot machine has a player selection bonus game where a player selects concealed gamepieces from a group to reveal the value of the gamepiece. The preferred game has a burger building theme in which the game rules are related to building one or more hamburgers, and the hidden gamepieces represent burger ingredients. A particular selection allows the player to win larger prizes for future selections. Other designated selections may modify future selections still further (2× and 3× multipliers for double-decker and triple-decker bun selections). Certain gamepieces may change their function based on the context or state of the bonus game.

02-21-2013

20130065662

SLOT MACHINE GAME WITH BONUS GAME HAVING SELECTABLE MODIFIER ELEMENTS - A game is provided, including a free spin bonus game with selectable modifier feature, known in a preferred embodiment as a bank heist bonus game. Before each free spin, the player picks a vault to receive a modifier element that applies to the free spin. The modifier element may be a credit prize, increment bonus multiplier, award additional spins, or turn a random reel wild (may be maintained wild for all remaining free spins or a designated number of free spins), for example. Additional spins can also be retriggered on the reels up to a maximum of 20 free spins (get all the vaults). To begin the free spin bonus game, the game may prompt the player for some type of biometric input and either read or appear to read biometric data as part of the game theme.

03-14-2013

20130065663

SLOT MACHINE GAME WITH EXPANDING POSITIONS - Systems, methods, and program products are taught which provide a slot machine game that increases the size of the symbol array as a mystery feature. As the player spins the reels, the number of positions available on each reel grows randomly to allow more paylines. Other embodiments may include free spin bonuses, as well as bonus features that further increase the number of positions on each reel, and adjust the probability of reel expansions based on the current array size.

03-14-2013

20130065676

SLOT MACHINE HAVING MULTIPLE PROGRESSIVE JACKPOTS - Provided is a variable jackpot meter feature for progressive games (either single or multiple tiered), which may be embodied in a game, a method of conducting or providing the game, or a system or program product. The meter coordinates graphics to the increasing value of the progressive jackpots. At its reset value, the progressive meter may be displayed in its least exciting graphical state indicating low “heat.” As the progressive meter value grows, the associated graphics would increase to indicate the amount has grown. By the time the progressive meter's value has reached or exceeded the progressive's expected value, the graphics may be in their most excited/active/hottest state. This state reinforces to the player that the progressive is a high value and it is a good time to try to win the prize.

03-14-2013

20130072278

WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A PLAYER-SELECTABLE MULTI-GAME MIX AND MATCH FEATURE - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a gaming machine provides a player-selectable base game and a player-selectable side game, both of which may be played and wagered upon concurrently or according to some play sequence. The selected base game may be one of several themes or types of game displayed on a portion of a primary display of the gaming machine and the selected side game may be one of several themes or types of game displayed on a remaining portion of the primary or an alternate display. The potential prizes may be stand-alone as with a prize table or networked as with a prize pool having fixed or progressive prizes.

03-21-2013

20130072293

WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A SIMULTANEOUS SECONDARY SCRATCH-OFF-STYLE GAME - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a gaining machine provides both a base game and a scratch-off-style side game which may be played and wagered upon concurrently or according to some play sequence. The base game may be one type of game displayed on a portion of a primary display of the gaming machine and the side game may be a ticket or number-based type of game, such as a lottery or sweepstakes style game, displayed on a remaining portion of the primary display wherein a player may be able to directly purchase chances to win one or more prizes in the ticket/number-based side game and/or be awarded a selected number of tickets/numbers/win-opportunities based on the amount of the player's wager in the primary game. The potential prizes may be stand-alone as with a prize table or networked as with a prize pool, such as in the case of a lottery or sweepstakes style game.

03-21-2013

20130150144

METHOD, APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR CONDUCTING A GAME USING BOTH UNISYMBOL AND MULTISYMBOL REEL EFFECTS - A novel game is provided that transforms at least a part of the graphic symbol matrix shown on a video-based reel-type gaming machine to change the game operation from multi-symbol reels to single-symbol reels. Methods, apparatus and program products for implementing the game are provided. A preferred game operates in a first display matrix state displaying a symbol matrix. The symbol matrix provides a game play result by displaying two or more reel representations that combine to form the symbol matrix. In response to a trigger event in game play, the game switches to a second display matrix state where it is modified to show single-symbol reel representations with separating elements between at least one pair of adjacent symbols of a respective reel representation. Multiple sets of data structures are provided for operation in each display state.

06-13-2013

20140024442

WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A BASE GAME AND A SIMULTANEOUS BONUS CURRENCY GAME - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a bonus currency game is operable simultaneously with the primary game. When a player initiates play of the primary game, the bonus currency game is initiated as well. The bonus currency game includes a set of target symbols which have corresponding bonus currency values such that, when a target symbol is activated, such as by a random or quasi-random determination, the bonus currency value associated with the target symbol is awarded to the player. After a player accumulates bonus currency, the player may utilize the currency to purchase various available online items, such as game plays in an arcade.

01-23-2014

20140045587

WAGERING GAMES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS WITH LIMITED PLAY HIGH FREQUENCY OUTCOME ASSOCIATED JACKPOTS - Gaming devices, systems and related methods are disclosed that include a jackpot controller which offers players the opportunity to win awards and/or jackpots (fixed or progressive awards) that are greater than the average award of the base game and which are associated with symbol combinations that have a likelihood of occurrence that is greater than the average probability of occurrence of winning outcomes in the base game. The jackpots are determined randomly, pseudo-randomly, or through other algorithmic processes from a pool and are activated for a finite number of game plays wherein a player may have a chance to win the jackpot.

02-13-2014

20140057693

WAGERING GAME WITH PLAYER ACTIVATED SPECIAL FUNCTION WHICH SIMULATES PREDICTING THE GAME OUTCOME - A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with one or more special function zones which allow player interaction in a manner that simulates a good luck charm predicting the future game outcome. A preferred version provides a slot machine game with a special function zone beside the reels presented as a selectable “good luck charm,” which is seen in certain circumstances to predict the outcome of a reel spin. If the player touches the charm at any time, it animates with a first animation. There is a second, different animation that the charm can do while the reels are spinning This second animation foreshadows a reel stop which will hit a designated high-value outcome.

02-27-2014

20140066165

WAGERING GAME WITH PLAYER SELECTION FEATURES - A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with one or more mode selection zones presented as a selectable “good luck charm,” which, when selected by the player, can change various aspects of the game including the game theme, special animations, bonus functionality, and paytables. In some embodiments, more options of selectable theme symbols are awarded or made available persistently as the player continues to play.

03-06-2014

20140094263

SLOT MACHINE GAME WITH EXPANDING POSITIONS - Systems, methods, and program products are taught which provide a slot machine game that increases the size of the symbol array as a mystery feature. As the player spins the reels, the number of positions available on each reel grows randomly to allow more paylines. Other embodiments may include free spin bonuses, as well as bonus features that further increase the number of positions on each reel, and adjust the probability of reel expansions based on the current array size.

04-03-2014

20140100035

WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A SIMULTANEOUS SECONDARY GAME - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a gaming machine provides both a base game and a side game which may be played and wagered upon concurrently or according to some play sequence. The base game may be one type of game displayed on a portion of a primary display of the gaming machine and the side game may be a different type of game displayed on a remaining portion of the primary display.